Filler strip



Oct. 8, `i940. HAMMER I 2,217,365

FILLER STRIP Filed June 2 1939 FEGQE FIG." 33 Flea 33 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PAENT OFFICE FILLER STRIP Application .lune 2, 1939, Serial No. 276,962

Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in filler strips for use in assembling, in group formation, kitchen cabinets and the like including a kitchen sink or other fixtures.

It is common practice today to equip kitchens with a plurality of work tables, cabinets, cupboards, etc., in addition to the usual sink and drain boards, and to assemble, as a unit, two or more of these various pieces of equipment or xtures, so that the ensemble will provide a large continuous working surface or table with tight inconspicuous joints between the several xtures.

An important object of my invention therefore is to provide a filler strip adapted yieldably to conform to and fill the spaces between the top and face surfaces of a pair of juxtaposed fixtures of the class described, whereby a substantially continuous surface is formed by the tops of these fixtures.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description thereof written in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which 25 Figure l is a view showing, in elevation, a. base cabinet assembled adjacent a sink having a sink cabinet disposed thereunder and with my improved ller strip disposed between the top of the base cabinet and the edge of the sink.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view showing the exposed edge of an elongated flexible means disposed in an angular shaped channel formed in the filler strip.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filler strip taken on line 1 -i of 'Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an end view of the strip as seen from the right hand end of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the strip shown in Figure 3.

Figures '7 and 8 are plan and rear views respectively of an elongated flexible strip preferably made of rubber and showing the same to have a smooth forward edge and a mutilated rear edge.

Figure 9 is an assembly view, partly in section, of the strip shown in Figure 1, as the same would appear from the rear of Figure l.

Figure 10 is a rear View of the right hand end of the strip shown in Figure 3.

Figure l1 shows the manner in which my ller strip may be used to close the space between two fixtures having a shape somewhat different than that of the sink and base cabinet assembly shown in Figure 1.

The most diflicult space in a kitchen cabinet ensemble, of the class described, to close with a ller strip, is that between a cast iron sink and an adjoining cabinet. This is because the sink when installed is, for all practical considerations, immovable and :further because being made of cast iron, the sink is usually irregular.

Referring now to Figure 1, I illustrate by way of i example, a preferred form of my ller strip, indicated generally by the numeral I 5, and the manner in which it is disposed between the end of a drain board iii of a sink Il, under which is mounted a sink cabinet I8, and the top i9 of a base cabinet 2i). The ller strip here shown by way of example comprises a sheet metal stamping extending the length of the top joint to be closed, comprising a body 2|, a base 22 projecting from one side thereof, and a support 23 projecting from the other side thereof. At the forward end of the strip, the support 23 extends beyond the body 2l and is bent downwardly to form a front support 2li.

At one side of the body 2l a sheet metal angle 25 is welded, as at 26, see Figure l0, or otherwise suitably secured thereto such that the other side 2l thereof is disposed parallel to and spaced from the strip support 23 throughout the length thereof. This side 27 may be described as a top or cover portion of a channel formed by the parts 23 and 27 for the reason that it is adapted to substantially cover a flexible and resilient member, to be hereinafter described, which member is supported by the parts 23 and 2li whence these parts derive the names here assigned to them.

The forward end 28 of the side 2l is bent downwardly in spacedrelation with respect to the support 24, see Figure 10, and may be described as a front or face cover 28, because the same is adapted to substantially 'cover a space left at the front of two juxtaposed fixtures. The side of the angle 25 secured to the body 2| is cut out as shown at 29 so that the end 2S may be bent downwardly, as described, and a portion thereof welded as at 30 to the body 2l. The space formed by the supports 23 and 24 and covers 2l and 2B may, for the Want of a better name, be referred to as a horizontally disposed channel, with an angu- 4 larly disposed. forward end for it is only possible to gain access thereto from the side since the other sid-e thereof is closed by the angle 25.

From the above description it will be seen that all points of the body 2l are disposed within the 35 formed at spaced intervals along the rear edge thereof.

Referring now to Figure 10 it will be seen that the base 22 iscut out at 36, so that when the strip is assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 9 the screws 31, by which the top I9 is secured to the body of the base cabinet 20 will pass through the notches 36. These notches are made large in comparison with the screws 37 to permit the strip 23-23--33 to be suitably adjusted prior to tightening the same by clamping the top I9 in place on the body 20. y

If the edge of the sink or other fixture next to which it is desired to mount a base cabinet is irregular, the ends o-f one or more of the lugs 35 of the strip 33 may be cut off, more or less, so that the smooth exposed or projecting edge of the strip 33 may conform to the shape of the sink. I have found in practice that while it is a difficult matter to cut a piece of rubber to form a continuous irregular edge, it is a comparatively simple matter to cut different amounts from the lugs 35 and make it possible thereby 4for the smooth edgefof the strip to conform to the contour of the sink when the lugs abut the bottom of the channel and the strip 33 is forced against the sink.

It will lbe understood that when the sink cabinet and base cabinet are finally assembled, they are secured together by any suitable means, such for example as screws 38 shown in Figure 9. When the fixtures, grouped as described, are finally secured to one another, and the lugs cut properly to hold the strip 33 against the Sink, it will be understood that a very neat smooth joint is effected as shown in Figure 9.

Referring now to Figure 11, it will be seen that two cabinets 40 and 4I, having tops 42 and 43, may be similarly joined if for any reason it is desired to have a tight joint formed between them.

It is understood that various modifications in the structure, as well as changes in the mode of assembling my filler strip may occur to those skilled in the art, hence I intend the disclosures herein as merely illustrative of preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form, and to explain the construction and operation thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A filler strip adapted to fit and close spaces at the top and face surfaces of a pair of juxtaposed xtures, comprising in combination means forming an elongated channel having one end thereof opening into and communicating with means forming a second channel having a crosssectional area similar to that of the first mentioned channel and disposed at an angle thereto, elongated resilient means confined in said channels with one edge thereof projecting therefrom, vand web means secured to the means forming at least one of said channels and located Within the `angle formed by the same by which the strip may be secured between a pair of juxtaposed fixtures.

.2. A filler strip adapted to fit and close spaces at the top and face surfaces of a pair of juxtaposed iixtures, comprising in combination means forming an elongated channel having one end thereof opening into and communicating with means forming a second channel having a crosssectional area similar to that of the first mentioned channel and disposed .at an angle thereto, Velongated resilient means disposed in said channels, said resilient means having an exposed edge projecting from the channels and another edge wholly confined within the same, said confined edge being mutilated to form throughout the length thereof spaced lugs for governing the distance the exposed edge is required toproject from said channels, and web means secured to the means forming at least one of said channels and located within the angle formed by the same by which the said strip may be secured between a pair of juxtaposed fixtures.

3. A filler strip adapted to fit and close spaces at the top and face surfaces of a pair of juxtaposed xtures comprising in combination sheet metal means forming an elongated channel having one end thereof opening into and communicating with means forming a second channel having a cross-sectional `area similar to that of the first mentioned channel and disposed at an angle substantially normal thereto, elongated resilient means disposed in said channels, said resilient means having a smooth exposed edge projecting from the channels and another edge wholly confined within the same, said confined edge being mutilated to form throughout the length thereof spaced lugs adapted to be cut to varying lengths forgoverning the distance the exposed edge is required to project from said channels, and web means secured to the means forming at least one of said channels and located within the angle formed by the same by which the said strip may be secured between a pair of juxtaposed fixtures.

4. Means for closing the space between a sink and a juxtaposed base cabinet, having a body portion and a top therefor comprising, in com.-

bination a flat topped horizontally disposedchannelmember having the forward end thereof formed downwardly at an angle thereto whereby access to the interior o-f said channel, including the forward end thereof, is afforded only from one side thereof, the side of said channel member remote from the interior thereof being iiat and adapted to abut the top of a base cabinet, an elongated rub-ber strip disposed in said channel including the forward endl thereof, adapted to project horizontally beyond the top into engagement with a sink, and means secured to said channel member and adapted to extend between the top and body portion of a base cabinet for securing said channel member in position with the top thereof in the plane of the top of said base cabinet, and with the rubber strip in engagement with a sink.

5. Means for closing the space between a sink and a juxtaposed base cabinet, having a body portion and a top therefor comprising in combination a fiat topped horizontally disposed channel member having the forward end thereof formed downwardly into a plane substantially normal toY the -top of said member, whereby access to the interior of said channel, including the forward end thereof, is afforded only from one side thereof, the side of said channel member remote from the interior thereof being fiat and adapted to abut the top of a base cabinet, an elongatedrubber strip disposed in said channel including the forward end thereof, adapted to project horizontally beyond the top into engagement with a sink, and means secured to said channel member and adapted to cooperate with the top of a. base cabinet for securing said channel member inl position with the top thereof in the plane of the top of said base cabinet, and with the rubber strip in engagement with a sink.

SAMUEL HAMMER. 

